DCLM Sincere Milk 25 March 2022 — Victory over temptation
DCLM Sincere Milk 25 March 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Victory over temptation
TOPIC: VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION
BIBLE TEXT: LUKE 4:1-12
1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
KEY VERSE: “And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Luke 4:12).
MESSAGE
Temptation is suggestion from the devil to do bad things. Doing evil is disobedience to the word of God. Everyone living on earth is faced with temptation at one time or another. Our text shows how Jesus, the very Son of God, was also tempted by the devil, and He overcame. It is clear from the word of God that the devil is the chief source of all temptations. He also uses human agents or things to tempt people. Most times, our desires within the heart may lead us away from the purpose of God. Some of the temptations from the devil may be to steal, fight, be proud, commit immoral acts, etc.
Temptation is not sin, but yielding to temptation is sin. Sin is dangerous. It separates us from the love and goodness of God which can land someone in hell if he does not repent.
How can we overcome temptation? Victory over temptation is easy when we depend on the power of God.
(i) Give your heart and life to Jesus. This is by repenting, turning away from all sins and receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(ii) Be separate from sinners and stay away from the sources of temptation.
(iii) Diligently guard your heart against evil thoughts and imaginations.
(iv) Always obey God’s word.
(v) Live in the fear of God.
(vi) Like Joseph, have a strong desire and determination to obey God, and do not listen to the devil. God will surely deliver you from every temptation
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, give me power and strength to overcome every temptation that may come my way.
FURTHER READING: Hebrews 4:14-16
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
